Srinagar, Jan 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Tuesday lauded Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Education Minister Sakina Itoo for their “landmark” decision of approving the long-pending stipend file for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) interning in Jammu and Kashmir.
Nasir Khuehami, National Convenor of the association, in a statement issued here extended gratitude to the Chief Minister for the prompt and considerate action, which he said provides much-needed financial relief and encouragement to young doctors dedicated to serving the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“This is a commendable step toward strengthening the medical education system in the Union Territory. The approval of stipends for FMG interns is a significant relief for young doctors, easing their financial burden and allowing them to focus on patient care without stress. We sincerely thank Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Education Minister Sakina Itoo for addressing this long-pending demand and ensuring parity for FMGs with other interns in Government Medical Colleges,” he said.
Khuehami urged the government to address other critical concerns impacting medical aspirants in Jammu and Kashmir. “Among these is the reinstatement of SRO-49 for NEET PG counselling, which was implemented in 2018-2019. The policy ensured fair seat allocation (75% for Open Merit) and prevented redundancy in reservation benefits, as candidates had already availed them at the undergraduate level,” he said, adding, “The reduction in Open Merit seats has deprived many deserving students of opportunities, and reinstating such policies would help restore fairness in the system.”
Adil Hussain, Media Coordinator of the association, highlighted another concern regarding Rule 17 in MD/MS admissions. “There is growing anxiety among students about the application of Rule 17, which they believe undermines merit-based seat allocation. The rule allows a reserved category candidate who qualifies in the open merit category to occupy a reserved seat, with the vacated open merit seat then being reallocated to another reserved category candidate. This deprives Open Merit candidates of opportunities they rightfully deserve,” he said.
Hussain criticised the inclusion of Jammu and Kashmir in the All India Quota (AIQ) since 2022. “The state-quota seats for local students have significantly reduced, with 15% of NEET UG seats and 50% of NEET PG seats allocated to AIQ. While AIQ was introduced to expand opportunities, it has primarily benefited non-local candidates, leaving J&K aspirants at a disadvantage. We urge the government to either opt out of AIQ or introduce service bonds to ensure that those securing seats in J&K commit to serving the local healthcare system,” he added.
The JKSA called for a mandatory service bond system for MBBS and PG medical graduates in Jammu and Kashmir, similar to other states. “The absence of a service bond has led to the outflow of trained doctors, weakening the local healthcare infrastructure. Introducing a three-year service bond with a conditional penalty for non-compliance would help retain skilled medical professionals and strengthen J&K’s healthcare system,” it added.
The association expressed hope that the Chief Minister would take note of these pressing concerns and implement necessary reforms to establish a fair, merit-based, and sustainable medical education system in Jammu and Kashmir.
